Electronic Arts today launched a Mac version of the Origin digital distribution service, with dual-platform purchases available on select games.
The platform's Mac catalog currently offers a number of titles from EA, Warner Bros., Sega and other publishers, with games including Dragon Age 2, Batman: Arkham City GOTY Edition, LEGO Harry Potter, and The Sims 3.
Origin's vice president Mike Blank noted that, much like on Valve's own Steam platform, a number of cross-platform games will only require a single purchase to receive both editions. However, he stated that this will only be available for "select" titles.
More information is available on the Origin blog.
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Now can we please fix the memory consumption of the Windows client? How many Webkit instances are running in there? How many are necessary?
In any other industry, when you're late to market, inferior and more expensive you would die quickly. Digital exclusivity sustains it but as a consumer I don't want it to, so as to prove you need to do better. EA aren't learning to do better, they're just learning they can hold customers hostage with exclusivity, regardless of how good their digital platform is.
I welcome competition when it is serious competition and adds value to the customers choice, I'm not sure I ever felt Origin did that.
I agree Origin is stable and downloads are quick, but that isn't unique, that's like offering chairs in a restaurant. It's part of your business criteria, it should be like that because that makes it convenient for the consumer. More expensive EA branded games is unique, but it isn't attractive to me.
It Still looks to me like Steam is trying to provide a Service and Origin is trying to make money. I'm under no illusion that Steam isn't trying to also make money...it just never feels like my experience is hindered by it. Perhaps a neat trick, perhaps a lesson EA don't care to learn.